The Jones County Board of Commissioners recently came out of a closed meeting and voted unanimously to discontinue health insurance for deputy coroners.

The closed session took place at the end of the March 19 commissioners’ meeting, and coroner Jerry Bridges Sr. was included to give his reasons why the county should continue to provide the deputy coroners with insurance benefits.

Bridges did not, however, stay for the vote of the board members, which took place when the meeting was reconvened.

The deputy coroners affected by the decision were later notified that their insurance coverage would cease April 30.

During a Monday interview, the coroner pointed out that his budget is approved by the board of commissioners and voted on each year. He said he and other department heads were asked to reduce their budgets by 5 percent last year, which he did.